Persuaded by touring Heights High

To the Editor:

Last Tuesday I had an eye-opening experience. On a tour, I saw sections of Heights High that, as a satisfied parent of two successful graduates, I had never seen before. Beyond the restored auditorium and the functional social room that are most often seen by the public, there is an old building with dysfunctional infrastructure that is expensive to operate and difficult to maintain. I had no idea!

As we walked, we experienced amazingly uneven climate control. The auditorium was chilly but most of the building was sweltering. The ancient air circulation system makes such a loud hum in the music room that tuning instruments is a challenge. Lighting is poor in many areas, and we learned that the electrical systems have no capacity to incorporate additional technology. Student learning is compromised by such an environment!

I urge you to see for yourself. We are being asked to approve Bond Issue 81 in November so the district can completely renovate the high school and two middle schools. This visit convinced me the need is real and compelling, and worth the investment. Renovations will reduce maintenance and improve energy efficiency, saving money in the long run. Furthermore, the district can access supplemental state money now that will not be available in the future. Costs go down and the quality of learning improves—it’s a win all around.

You can tour Heights High every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. Reserve your spot by calling 216-320-3052 or e-mailing J_Henderson@chuh.org .  

Go. Experience it for yourself. Then decide.